This year, one of the honorees is AIA member Kaarin Knudson. An architect and instructor at University of Oregon, Knudson is also the founder and project lead for Better Housing Together, an organization working to address the housing crisis in Eugene. Currently, Oregon faces a shortage of 150,000-300,000 housing units statewide and Eugene faces a shortage of 65,000 units. Nearly half of Eugene residents, Knudson lays out, are in poverty or struggling to meet their basic needs--a situation intricately tied to the high price of housing in the area. Young people are unable to break into the housing market, working families stretch themselves thin trying to make ends meet, and seniors have few options to downsize.
In response, Better Housing Together has built a network of over 50 partners dedicated to working collaboratively to increase the affordability, diversity, and supply of housing in Lane County. They advocate for “sustainable, walkable neighborhoods [and] well-designed infill redevelopment that reduces our impact on the climate and keeps our community welcoming and economically thriving.” A strong theme voiced by Better Housing Together is choice--the ability to choose from a range of high-quality housing options that fit each individual’s or family’s lifestyle. Such choice gives community members the agency and security needed to invest in their future.